Grain dryer and cooler



. Jan. 19, 1965 A. MAKSYMEC GRAIN DRYER AND COOLER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 med Oct. 16. 1961 I N VEN TOR 4w Mwma.

ATTORNEY Jan.'19, 1965 A. MAKSYMEC 3,166,386

GRAIN DRYER AND COOLER Filed Oct. 16. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENT OR BYWW ATTUR/VEV Jan. 19, 1965 I 3,166,386

GRAIN DRYER AND COOLER Filed Oct. 16, 1961 S ShQets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. wy Many/(Ea A TTOZA/E Y United States Patent ()1 3,166,386 GRAIN DRYER AND COOLER Andy Malrsymec, Box 104, Egremont, Alberta, Canada Filed Oct. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 145,365 2 Claims. (Cl. 34-62) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in grain driers. Conventional grain driers normally use a supply of heated forced air which is passed through the grain and allowed to escape with the moisture through screened openings surrounding the drying chamber. This causes an excess of vapor around the drier which makes it difficult to see while working and, if operated during the winter months, normally freezes on the clothing of the operator. Furthermore conventional driers cannot use a high source of heat without the danger of burning grain particularly when the grain is of a type wherein the grain is moved slowly. Furthermore, the grain has to be stored in a heated condition under conventional operations, once again limiting the temperature at which the grain can be dried, unless it is first cooled in the drying chamber which is very time consuming.

Another disadvantage of conventional grain driers is that they can only operate efficiently at full capacity. Furthermore the cost is excessive and the amount of fuel area is high necessitating storage facilities for the 'fuel and causing difliculties when moving the device from one location to the other.

By providing a drying chamber with a discharge aperture at the upper end thereof and with an agitator therein, I am able to dry grain at a higher temperature than normal Without the danger of burning the grain. By providing a cooling chamber adjacent the drying chamber, the grain is rapidly cooled, ready for immediate storage and by utilizing a source of gas heat below the drying chamber I can route heated air through the drying chamber without the necessity of using forced air in order to accomplish this result.

Another advantage of my device is a preloading hopper situated adjacent one side of the drying chamber which can be filled with a measured quantity of grain and then dumped into the drying chamber thus permitting the operator to ready the next load while the first load is being dried. This facilitates the operation of the drying and, in particular, speeds up the process.

The principal object and essence of my invention is therefore to provide a grain dryer with an agitating means therein which circulates a measured quantity of grain through a source of hot air rising through the drying chamber.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which includes a preloading hopper on one side of the drying chamber whereby a metered amount of grain can be dumped rapidly into the drying chamber when required.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which includes a cooling chamber adjacent one end of the drying chamber thus permitting a rapid cooling of the grain prior to storage.

Yet another object of-my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which all of the operations can occur in sequence so that continuous batches of grain can be fed to the machine and discharged at the other end thereof.

A yet further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is extremely simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other 3,155,385 Patented Jan. 19, 1965 ICC objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my machine, cut away in part to show the interior thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 but shown from the other end thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the agitator per se.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one end of one of the scoops of the agitator.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary partially sectioned view showing the dump flaps of the drying chamber and the drive for the horizontal auger situated thereunder.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectioned view showing the communication between the preloading hopper and the drying chamber.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe my invention in detail, reference should first be made to FIGURES 1 and 2 in which I have shown a substantially rectangular sup-' porting framework 10 consisting of longitudinals 11 and transverse members 12 and having a floor 13 spanning these members.

Ground engaging wheels 14 are journalled upon axles 15 and permit the entire device to be moved from one location to another as desired.

Vertical supports 16 extend upwardly from the longi-,

tudinal members and support a horizontally disposed substantially cylindrical drying chamber collectively 21, which is open at the upper side thereof, includes sidewalls 22 and end walls 23 and inwardly converging lower walls 24.

Reference to FIGURE 6 will show the means for communication between the preloading hopper 21 and the drying chamber 17.

Within one of the walls 24 is an elongated discharge aperture 25 selectively opened and closed by a hinged flap 26 hinged upon pin 27. Within the lower side 28 of the upper side wall 18' of the drying chamber adjacent the preloading hopper is an entrance aperture 29 selectively opened and closed by a further flap 30 hinged upon pin 31.

An elongated duct bounded by walls 32 and 33 communicates between the apertures 25 and 29 and linkage and lever means collectively designated 34 are connected to the flaps 26 and 30 in order to actuate same.

This linkage and leverage 34 comprises a lever 35 pivoted upon a pin 36 supported upon bracket 37 secured to one end 19 of the drying chamber. This lever 35 is part of a bell crank including a short lever 38 to which is secured a vertical link 39 by means of pin 40. Further linkage 41 is pivotally connected adjacent the upper end of the link 39 and in turn is pivotally connected to a connecting link 42 extending between the two flaps 26 and 30 as clearly shown in FIGURE 6.

In the drawing, these flaps are shown in the closed position which permits grain 43 to be loaded within the preloading chamber level with the top thereof thus measurconnection of the linkage to cross pin ed mounted within bracket 46. This causes the flaps to take up the position shown in phantom .in FIGURE 6 thus permitting the grain &3 to flow, by gravity, from the preloading hopper 21, through the duct bounded by walls 32 and 33, through the opening 29 and thus into the drying chamber 17.

\Nhen the grain has emptied from the preloading hopper, the lever 35 is moved in the opposite direction thus closing the'flaps so that preloading of the hopper 21 can continue while the grain just transferred therefrom is being dried. 7

Grain agitator means collectively designated 46 are journalled within the .drying chamber and adapted to maintain the grain therein in a constantly turbulent condition, said agitating means taking the form of a spindle 47 journalled for rotation centrally within the end walls- 19 of the drying chamber and extending horizontally therethrough.

rms 48 extend radially from adjacent each end of the spindle 47' and within the drying chamber 17, said arms carrying a plurality of grain pickup-and-dumping scoops collectively'designated 49, said scoops extending horizontally and parallel with the longitudinal axis of the drying chamber.

FIGURES 3 and 4 show details of the construction of these scoops, each of which consists of an arcuately curved outer wall d, end walls 51, and inner walls 52 and 53, the edges 54 of which terminate in spaced apart relationship thus providing the scooped openings 55.

These scoops are attached to the arms 48 as by welding adjacent the end walls 51 thereof as clearly shown in the drawings. Grain pick-up flanges 56 extend the full length of' the inner walls 53 of the scoops and are secured thereto by means of bolts 57 and wing nuts 58 extending through elongated slots 59 within the flanges. These flanges are adjustable as shown in phantom in FIGURE 4 so that they can be positioned in wiping contact with the inner wall of the grain drying chamber thus ensuring that all of the grain is picked up by the flanges, dumped into the scoops and carried upwardly and then discharged in a curtain downwardly through the drying chamber so that the grain is always in constant movement through the heated air passing upwardly through the drying chamber. This not only facilitates the drying action but prevents burning of the grain.

A source of heat is provided below the drying chamber and takes theform, preferably of elongated propane gas burners 6d supported upon brackets (not illustrated) and extending upwardly from the floor or base 13. It will also be appreciated that these burners'otl are connected to a source of propane gas (not illustrated).

Side panels 61 extend between the longitudinals lllrver- .tically upward to the curved side walls 18 of the drying chamber thus enclosingthe burners at the sides so that air heated by the burners can enter the drying chamber through a plurality of screened entrances 62 formed in thecurved wall-118 adjacent the junction of the panels 61 with the curved wall.

4. a 66 carrying a horizontallydisposed auger flight 67 journalled for rotation within the end walls 63 of the tube and details of this portion of the invention are shown most clearly in FIGURE 5 of the drawings.

Means are provided selectively to discharge grain from the drying chamber into this horizontally disposed auger and tube, said means consistin of a plurality of substantially rectangular'openings 69 formed in the base of the drying chamber. These apertures are selectively opened and closed by means of curved flaps '74P pivoted by one side edge thereof on pivot pins '71 adjacent one side edge of the apertures 69. FIGURE 5 will show that the other side edge 72 of the flaps overlaps the portion 73 of the base of the drying chamber but in order to present a smooth interior surface to the drying chamber when the flaps are closed, a curved plate '74 is secured as by welding to the flaps 74) which just fits within the apertures 69 and-also assists in stiffening the flaps '76.

Each of the flaps is provided with a lug '75 depending downwardly therefrom and connected by a link 76 to one end 77 of an operating bell crank pivoted upon pin '78 supported by brackets 79 securedto the underside of the drying chamber. The other arm fill of the bell crank is formed by the operating handle 81, movement of which, in the direction of arrow 82, will open the flaps 7d to the position shown in phantom in FIGURE 5 thus permitting the grain to be dumped through the apertures 69 into the auger casing 66. In this connection, a con- Inverted V-shaped guards 63 extend'longitudinally over the burners'dtl; said guards being made of screened material thus preventing chaff and the like being deposited through the entrances 62 and onto the burners.

Draft control apertures 64 are formed within the base 13 immediately below the burners as controlled by sliding flaps and it will be seen that air is drawn through these apertures, heated by the burners 6d, passing through the screened guards 63 and then into the drying chamber via the entrances 62 and outwardly through the open upper side Zll of the drying chamber. I a

Situated under the lower portion of the drying chamher and extending the full length thereof is an anger tube ventional ratchet control 83 is incorporated within the handle 81 so that the flaps can be locked in the closed or open position.

An inverted V-shaped deflector 84 supported upon cross brackets 555 within the auger casing 66, exetnds the full length of the auger casing and facilitates the distribution of the grain to the auger flight 67.

in order to prevent heat from the burners 6i) acting upon the grain which may remain within the auger flight 67,7 I'provide elongated shroud panels 86 secured to the underside of the drying chamber and extending downwardly to the floor or base 13 ofthe supporting framework between the auger casing 66 and the burners 6t).

Before proceeding with a description of the next portion of the invention, reference should be made to the means for driving the various components hereinbefore described. A source of power'indicated schematically by reference character 87 is provided on a shelf bracket 88 on one side of the supporting framework It). However, the source of power can readily come from a power takeoff of a separate unit if desired.

it is desirable that a speed reduction unit be incorporated but as this is conventional, it is not illustrated in the attached drawings.

A main drive shaft 89 is journalled for rotation within bearings 90 secured to one longitudinal member 11 upon one side of the assembly and a chain 91 extends between the source of power 87 and this drive shaft thus providing rotation thereto.

Chain wheels 92 are secured to the drive shaft adjacent each end of the drying chamber and further chain wheels 92 are secured to the extending ends of the spindle 47 of the agitator assembly as. Chains 94 extend around chain wheels 92' and 96 thus providing a drive for the'rotation of the agitator assembly.

A pulley is secured to the drive shaft'adjacent one end thereof and a further pulley 95 is secured to the extending end of the auger flight shaft 7 of the horizontal auger flight 67. A belt 9% extends around pulleys 95 and as thus providing drive to the auger flight 67. However, it is'not desired that this auger flightoperate continuously, consequently a belt tightening assembly collectively designated 99 is provided so that power can be transmitted to the auger flight 67 when desired. This In this connection reference to ca! 1% including a ratchet assembly 191 and pivoted upon a pin 1=Ii2 mounting same upon bracket 1% which in turn is supported upon the transverse member 12 of the supporting framework. A further, relatively short arm Iii-4 is secured to pin 1% and moves with the lever 191, said arm lied carrying a belt engaging pulley 165 so that movement of the lever 1th leftwardly with regard to FIG- URE 1, causes the pulley 1435 to engage the outer surface of the belt 98 thus tightening same and engaging it around pulley 96.

Grain augered horizontally by means of the auger flight 67 is discharged into an upwardly inclining auger assembly 196 shown in detail in FIGURE 2, it being understood that the lower end 1637 of the auger casing communicates with the end 1% of the horizontal auger casing 66.

Grain is augered upwardly by means of the auger 106 and discharged via spout 199 into a cooling chamber collectively designated 119 situated at one end of the sup porting framework adjacent one end of the drying chamber 17. This cooling chamber which is supported upon vertical members Ill, is substantially box like in configuration and is made of screened Walls 1E2 with an inverted frustro-pyramidal base 113 also manufacture of screened material.

A source of cooling air 114 is supported upon an oilstanding shelf 115 and consists of a fan (not illustrated) driving cool air through a duct 3.16 to the interior of an air distribution enclosure "117. This distribution enclosure is a hollow boxlike structure also made of screened material and having sloping upper sides H3. The grain from spout 3.539 is discharged onto these upper sides 113 thus facilitating the distribution'of grain'as it falls within the cooling chamber so that cool air passing from the unit 114 passes upwardly through the grain. In this connection, I provide an airdefiector 119 within the air distribution enclosure to facilitate the even distribution of the cooling as it passes upwardiy'through the enclosure 117.

A further upwardly inclining auger assembly 129 communicates with the lower side 121 of the cooling chamber, the lower end of the'casing 122 extending into the base 121. Grain is thus angered from the cooling chamber upwardly and discharged via spout 123 to a convenient storage location.

A pulley 124 is secured tothe main drive shaft 39 and a further pulley 125 is secured to the source of cool air 114, belt 126 extending around these two pulleys thus providing selectively, a drive for the source of cooled air 114. In this connection a similar belt itghtening assembly to thehereinbefore described belt tightening, assembly 99 is provided and operated by the lever 127 as shown in phantom.

A pulley 128 is also secured to the main drive shaft 89 with a further pulley 129 secured tothe lower end of the auger assembly 129, belt 136 extending around these two pulleys and providing selective drive means to the auger assembly'lltl. A belt tightening assembly also is provided for this belt, the details being similar to the belt tightener assembly 99 hereinbetore described and operated by lever 131. a a

The. auger assembly 196 is driven by a belt 132 pass ing around pulleys 133, 134 on the drive, shaft 89 and auger assembly, respectively, a belt tightener 99' being provided for. the belt 132 and actuated by the lever 19% through the medium of the pin 162.

The sequence of operation is as follows. .A measured quantity of grain is placed Within the preloading hopper 21 which is then discharged to the drying chamber by the means shown in FIGURE 6. The burnerst) supply a source of hot air through the entrances 62 and the agitater assembly 45 continuously elevates and dumps the grain through the hot air flowing through the drying chamben. While this grain is being dried, a further load i b may be deposited within the preloading chamber 21. When the grain within the drying chamber 17 has been exposed to the drying air for the requisite time, flaps 79 are operated by means of lever 81 thus dumping the grain into the horizontally disposed auger tube 66.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely diferent embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a grain dryer, the combination of a horizontal base plate, a substantially cylindrical hollow body mounted horizontally above said base plate and defining a drying chamber therein, said body having closed ends, a bottom portion, a pair of side portions and atop portion provided with an outlet opening for drying gases, means on the upper portion of said body for delivering grain to be dried into said chamber, a screw conveyor for dried grain provided longitudinally on said base plate below said body,

the bottom portion of the body being formed with a dried grain outlet opening communicating the bottom of said chamber with said conveyor, a grain agitator rotatably mounted in said chamber, said grain agitator comprising a shaft extending axially in said chamber and rotatably journalled in the closed ends of said body, pairs of arms extending radially from said shaft, a horizontally elongated scoop carried by the outer ends of each pair of said arms, said scoop having a closed outer wall, a pair of closed side Walls and an open inner portion oriented radially with respect to said shaft so that the open inner portion is uppermost when the scoop is in the bottom portion of said chamber but is lowermost when the scoop is' in the upper portion of the chamber .to permit. grain to fall from the scoop to the bottom portion of the chamber, means carried by one side wall of each scoop and in wiping contact with the bottom and side portions of said body for gathering and delivering grain from the bottom portion of said chamber into the scoop, a pair of vertical side.

plates extending downwardly from the side portions of said body to said base plate, a pair of longitudinal partitions disposed at opposite sides of said conveyor and extending downwardly from the bottom portion of the body to the base plate in inwardly spaced relation from the respective side plates, said side plates and said partitions coacting with the bottom and side portions of said body and with the base plate to define a pair of burner compartments, burners provided in said compartments; the side portions of said body being provided with screened openings communicating said burner compartments with said chamber, 'openable closure means provided for the grain outlet opening in the bottom portion of said body, a dried grain cooler provided on said base plate at one endof said body, and means for delivering dried grain trom said conveyor to said cooler.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means carried by one side wall of each scoop comprises a wiper plate superposed on said-oneside wall of each scoop, and

' means adjustably securing said wiper plate to said one side wall for movement of the wiper plate toward and away from the bottom and side portions of said body to efiect a wiping contact therewith.

References (Iitedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,308,819 Taylor July 8, 1919 1,439,317 Maede Dec. 19,-. 1922 v FOREIGN PATENTS 550,587 Great Britain Ian. 14, 1943. 553,405

Germany Mar. 5, 1931 

1. IN A GRAIN DRYER, THE COMBINATION OF A HORIZONTAL BASE PLATE, A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL HOLLOW BODY MOUNTED HORIZONALLY ABOVE SAID BASE PLATE AND DEFINING A DRYING CHAMBER THEREIN, SAID BODY HAVING CLOSED ENDS, A BOTTOM PORTION, A PAIR OF SIDE PORTIONS AND A TOP PORTION PROVIDED WITH AN OUTLET OPENING FOR DRYING GASES, MEANS ON THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID BODY FOR DELIVERING GRAIN TO BE DRIED INTO SAID CHAMBER, A SCREW CONVEYOR FOR DRIED GRAIN PROVIDED LONGITUDINALLY ON SAID BASE PLATE BELOW SAID BODY, THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE BODY BEING FORMED WITH A DRIED GRAIN OUTLET OPENING COMMUNICATING THE BOTTOM OF SAID CHAMBER WITH SAID CONVEYOR, A GRAIN AGITATOR COMPRISING A SHAFT EXTENDING AXIALLY IN SAID CHAMBER AND ROTATABLY JOURNALLED IN THE CLOSED ENDS OF SAID BODY, PAIRS OF ARMS EXTENDING RADIALLY FROM SAID SHAFT, A HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED SCOOP CARRIED BY THE OUTER ENDS OF EACH PAIR OF SAID ARMS, SAID SCOOP HAVING A CLOSED OUTER WALL, A PAIR OF CLOSED SIDE WALLS AND AN OPEN INNER PORTION ORIENTED RADIALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID SHAFT SO THAT THE OPEN INNER PORTION IS UPPERMOST WHEN THE SCOOP IS IN THE BOTTOM PORTION OF SAID CHAMBER BUT IN A LOWERMOST WHEN THE SCOOP IS IN THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CHAMBER TO PERMIT GRAIN TO FALL FROM THE SCOOP TO THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE CHAMBER, MEANS CARRIED BY ONE SIDE WALL OF EACH SCOOP AND IN WIPING CONTACT WITH THE BOTTOM AND SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID BODY FOR GATHERING AND DELIVERING GRAIN FROM THE BOTTOM PORTION OF SAID CHAMBER INTO THE SCOOP, A PAIR OF VERTICAL SIDE PLATES EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE SIDE PORTION OF SAID BODY TO SAID BASE PLATE, A PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL PARTITIONS DISPOSED OF OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CONVEYOR AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE BODY TO THE BASE PLATE IN INWARDLY SPACED RELATION FROM THE RESPECTIVE SIDE PLATES, SAID SIDE PLATES AND SAID PARTITIONS COACTING WITH THE BOTTOM AND SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID BODY AND WITH THE BASE PLATE TO DEFINE A PAIR BURNER COMPARTMENTS, BURNERS PROVIDED IN SAID COMPARTMENTS, THE SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID BODY BEING PROVIDED WITH SCREENED OPENINGS COMMUNICATING SAID BURNER COMPARTMENTS WITH SAID CHAMBER, OPENABLE CLOSURE MEANS PROVIDED FOR THE GRAIN OUTLET OPENING IN THE BOTTOM PORTION OF SAID BODY, A DRIED GRAIN COOLER PROVIDED ON SAID BASE PLATE OF ONE END OF SAID BODY, AND MEANS FOR DELIVERING DRIED GRAIN FROM SAID CONVEYOR TO SAID COOLER. 